Paul Thielen
MN · Paynesville City Council Member
Paynesville city council member who also serves on the city's Budget and Finance Board, Planning Board and municipal liquor store board.
Where Paul Thielen stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (2 records), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Opposes
Housing Affordability (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (3 support · 5 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Made the motion to grant a special permit for a 1-megawatt solar farm on Ferche family land. It passed 4-1.
August 28, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: cms2.revize.com
Made the motion to require masks in all city buildings until local COVID-19 cases fell below 12%. It passed.
January 10, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: cms2.revize.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 support · 5 oppose
Made the motions to buy 15 fire department radios for $58,105 and to accept a $344,296 state Safe Routes to School grant. Both passed 5-0.
June 8, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Made the motion for the city to pay a third, up to $5,000 total, of a funding study for a new library. It passed 2-1.
March 23, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Seconded and voted for the 2026 city tax levy, and voted for the 2026 budget, which passed 4-1.
December 8, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Made the motion to hire Project One Construction to build the new city liquor store for $1,064,530. It passed 4-0.
April 28, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Voted against a $30,472 replacement swimming dock for Veterans Park. It passed 4-1.
May 22, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Voted against the city paying $3,000 toward a study of moving the library into the Washburne Court building. It passed 4-1.
March 28, 2022Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Voted against the 2022 city budget and tax levy after urging the city to slow planned capital projects. Both passed 4-1.
December 13, 2021Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Made the motion to start hiring a full-time police officer. It passed 4-1.
May 24, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cms2.revize.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Made the motions to buy 15 fire department radios for $58,105 and to accept a $344,296 state Safe Routes to School grant. Both passed 5-0.
June 8, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: cms2.revize.com
Made the motion to start hiring a full-time police officer. It passed 4-1.
May 24, 2021Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: cms2.revize.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
Made the motion to require a special permit for stand-alone apartment buildings downtown. The council widened it to all stand-alone housing there, and it passed unanimously.
October 13, 2025Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: cms2.revize.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Made the motions to buy 15 fire department radios for $58,105 and to accept a $344,296 state Safe Routes to School grant. Both passed 5-0.
June 8, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: cms2.revize.com
Track record — General
General · 7 records
Voted against accepting an offer to buy a city-owned lot at 300 Kira Court. It passed 4-1.
April 8, 2024
Source: cms2.revize.com
Made the motion to approve 2024 licenses for the city liquor store and the American Legion to sell THC products. It passed 3-1.
December 27, 2023
Source: cms2.revize.com
Voted against hiring Stearns County to prosecute city cases for $15,300. It passed 3-2.
November 27, 2023
Source: cms2.revize.com
Won election to the Paynesville City Council with 725 votes (51%) in a race for two seats.
November 8, 2022
Source: electionresultsfiles.sos.mn.gov
Seconded and voted for a city ordinance licensing stores that sell THC products for a $500 yearly fee. It passed 3-1.
October 24, 2022
Source: cms2.revize.com
Made a motion for a one-year citywide ban on newly legal THC edibles, which failed 2-3. Then voted against regulating them instead, which passed 3-2.
August 8, 2022
Source: cms2.revize.com
Was appointed to the Paynesville City Council to fill Shawn Reinke's seat, winning the council's vote over three other applicants. He was sworn in that night.
January 11, 2021
Source: cms2.revize.com
Past race Paul Thielen ran in:
- City Council Member At-Large · November 3, 2026 · Paynesville city, Minnesota · incumbent